Are Saabs good in snow?

Question

Are Saabs good in snow?

Answer 1

I had some Performance All season tires on my 2001 9-5 V6 sedan and the car was absolutely terrible in the snow. No traction at all. I actually destroyed that set coming home one snowy night trying to get up the hill to my house. I got another set of performance all seasons and they're slightly better but nothing to write home about. I have talked to other 9-5 owners though who buy dedicated snow tires and they report that the 9-5 is amazing in the snow with proper shoes on it. One guy I talked to actually pulled a lady in a Mercedes Benz SUV out of a snow bank with his 9-5 that had snow tires on it in a storm.

Other posters mentioned the Turbo-X with the XWD (Cross Wheel Drive). Don't forget that you can get all 2008 9-3's with XWD drive now. You don't have to pay the $43k price tag for the Turbo-X package, although I don't remember if you can get the 2.0t with XWD. Anyway, XWD is supposedly amazing in the snow. It's supposedly even better than Audi's legendary Quattro AWD system... XWD can direct power/torque to individual wheels. Quattro can only switch from back to front.

Answer 2

Since we are referring to other answers, I'll do the same...

Tashfeen is right as far as the cars doing well in the snow ... for the most part. But K has a good point as well. The new Saab will be good for conditions that prior years couldn't handle as well. Not sure why they got the attack from TQ.

Oh and if all FWD cars are created equal, then the driver is the most influential factor in snow driving. Common sense makes more of a difference than much else. Don't go gunning it and don't slam on your breaks. And get good tires. Year-round tires are the best, if you don't plan on spending $1300 on a set for each mood, ya know?

Answer 3

excellent. The winter button feature puts the vehicle in high gear when starting off in snow and eliminates wheel spinning.

Answer 4

how does that relate to the make of the car?

Answer 5

Since Tashfeen is going to point game his way to a victory once this goes to voting, I'll let it be known that nobody has a chance, even though there are several much better answers.

In MY opinion (which is all that anyone can give), Saabs are GOOD in the snow but not GREAT. They are capable enough to move a responsible driver who knows how to drive in snow. Forget blizzards, because nobody should be out in those things! The cars definitely could be better but they have improved with time. My first Saab was a new 1984 and it was not a snow car at all. Now I have a 2007 9-5 wagon which did quite well last winter, even with a dog cage and luggage in the back (which offset the balance).

Answer 6

The new Turbo X with XWD (cross wheel drive) will be great. The current and former FWD Saabs leave something to be desired for traction in most conditions. But it also has a lot to do with your tires. Get winter snow tires and use the W button (for winter driving) and you'll probably never be stranded. I think they tend to do better in snow than in rain.

Tashfeen - I sincerely hope you weren't referring to me with that rude post. I certainly did not answer for two points. You cannot extrapolate what the asker had in mind, since they provided no details about a specific model. As an owner of two Saabs, I CAN speak from experience. Please don't discount my response because you disagree.

And my 9-5 Aero cost $45,000 (USD). What does the price of the Turbo X have to do with anything?

Saaber89 nailed it. That's your best answer.

Answer 7

the  most Important the body balance of the car it self. you can used any brand any all season snow tire,and you can put heavy stuff  at your trunk,any steel change  they all the same slide and danger your self.

change shock absorber,change brake,body realignment.those are the three things you do.FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY and others too.

from Canada,Toronto,Ontario,